7 Films to Watch on Freeview TV This Week

After coming of age in an orphanage run by a kind older doctor, a young man decides it's time to get out and see the big bad world with the help of some new friends. Lasse Hallström's adaptation of John Irving's novel is a beautiful little film, touching, well written and packed full of top notch acting. Tobey Maguire is solid as lead Homer but Michael Caine and Charlize Theron own the film.

The Drop Sat 9/12 CH4 @ 23:35

A quiet bartender in a mob-run bar in Brooklyn finds his life getting very complicated when the place is robbed and he becomes involved with his neighbour. A nice little low key thriller that's smart, funny, exciting and full of great characters. Tom Hardy is good as his usual gruff self and gets cracking support from Noomi Rapace, Matthias Schoenaerts, and the late and much missed James Gandolfini. Quite different to your usual mob film and one that I recommend highly.

Unbroken Sun 10/12 CH4 @ 23:30

The biography of Louis Zamperini, an American Olympic athlete who had a very harrowing World War II experience. Jack O'Connell gives his all as Zamperini in a film that was bafflingly overlooked at the box office. Directed by Angelina Jolie and written by the Coen Brothers, it's tough going but a fine tale of bravery and endurance. Domhnall Gleeson and Garrett Hedlund give good support.

Headhunters Mon 11/12 BBC2 @ 01:05

Roger is a corporate headhunter and a successful burglar. When he makes a poor decision regarding a new target he finds it coming back to bite him badly. This adaptation of a Jo Nesbø novel is a highly entertaining watch. Chock-a-block with dark humour, this is a violent and nasty but thoroughly exciting watch. Aksel Hennie and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau are great fun as mouse and cat respectively.

Shane Tues 12/12 Film4 @ 15:45

A worn out gunslinger wants to retire and tend to a farm but finds himself drawn into conflict between a land owner and a rancher. One of the all time best westerns here and also contains one of the best bar fight scenes ever. You can't go wrong watching this. Alan Ladd is superb in the main role and gets solid support from familiar faces of the genre like Van Heflin, Elisha Cooke Jr and the brilliant Jack Palance.

Scanners Thurs 14/12 Horror Channel @ 22:45

David Cronenberg's 1981 sci-fi/horror/thriller is a brilliant example of the body horror genre. It stars Stephen Lack and Michael Ironside as two men who have dangerous psychic powers - one is on the run from society and one wants to dominate it. A dark, intriguing and blackly comic film that contains some practical special effects that beat modern CGI hands down. One scene near the start will blow your mind. Not for the squeamish.

Hyena Fri 15/12 Film4 @ 23:15

When circumstances force a change, a crooked London cop finds his life becoming very complicated, on both sides of the law. This 2014 thriller is very good and full of nerve jangling tension but it's also scaldingly horrible and hard to watch in places. One scene in particular is very disturbing so take heed. Peter Ferdinando, Myanna Buring and Stephen Graham all put in solid performances.

Last updated: 09/12/2017 10:31:03

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